CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 18

CANTERBURY MARKETS.

Christchurch grain and produce report (Lyttelton Times, 2nd mst.) — Tliere is no change in the local wheat market since last report, and faimers show no keenness to sell at current rates. Although a few small lines have been, shipped to Melbourne there is no indication that those who have looked to Austiaha to provide a market for any surplus of wheat there may be in New Zealand are likely to find their views leahsed. Rather is the reverse the case, ns 'the requirements of the Commonwealth appear to have been already fully /net at prices which have shut out New Zealand importations. Oats remain firm at last quotations. Latest reports from Southland are that a good deal of damage has been done by the weather, and that in many instances wheie threshing has taken place the yield is fully 20 per cent, less than the appeara,nce of the crop indicated. Should the weather continue fine the whole of the crop should be harvested by the end of next week. There has been a good deal >f inquiry for oat-sheaf chaff, but little business has been transacted. There is little to leport coucsriung barley, and the same remark applies to potatoes and onions, business being very rcLtuctcd. In peas, Blue Piussians aie being keenly sought after, ard as high a3 Cs per bushel has been paid to fulfil outers. Ryegras3 and cocksfoot are practically unchanged. Stocks of butter are accumulating m AuftiahK, and unless cold weather ensues shortly the tendency of pr.ces there will bs downward. An offer of 10i f o.b. was leceiit'y made for New Zealand butter for WayJuno sl'ipment to Australia, but was not accepted.

Ash burton market for the week ended Friday last — Wheat: There has been a firmer fee!ii'!» all round, and salea have been fairly extensive editing the week. Millers are more inclined to purchase at farmers' rates than in the past, tliU3 facilitating business. Pearl is still in great demand, but few hi:es are now being off -red , prime thin-skinned Tuscan also pells readily at full rates. Values are — Peail, 3s lOd , Tuscan, 3s 9UI , Hunter's, 3s PJd. Oats Millmg oats are slow of sale, except for very prime he.ivy, sparrowbllls also ale by no means sought affer, and full rates aie difficult to obtain; Danish are in principal demand at present, wanted for shipment, and all lines offering meet with ready sale, as a'so do gcod hea\y duns, lighter sorts are dull and difficult to dispose of. Prices aie Milling: Canadians, Is Sd to Is 9d , spanowb»l!s, Is Gd to 1-., "fl , Daiii°h, Is 4d to 1% 5d , duns, Is 5d to Is 6d Oatsheaf chuff Inquiry comes to hand fi< m all sides. Fanners are i.ot yet ready to turn attention to cutt'rg and caiting chaff, and, consequently, few tales have been effected. and prices are inclined to go h J,l.er, 47s 6d being i he selling price to-day.

Tiu.mi gr^m market (Herald, 2nd i"ot.) — Tl.°ie is little f. eoh to repoit ir> the wheat uuiknt. nnd prices rptnam about the same as quoted last week. Millers are bu>mg all little lots of pnnie that are offering, at lato rate?. Farmers who have a gocd quality of wheat pifler to store lathei thin accept the prices luling at pio=cnt. The market for oaj,s is i other firmer th?n when we last reported and sale"? are being freely made, Garto-io being worth Is 7Jfl, good lieavy Danish la 6J, and good heavy duns Is 6Jd to Is '.d. all on trucks at Timaau, sacks sd. Feed barley remains at aLout the same price as las* w< ek, and is being =ol(1 in srr.pll lots at 2s 3d f.0.b., sacks extra. Thcrr aia no bnvera for laree Quantities. Theie

is no malting on offer so far on the Timaru market. Good whole fowl wheatis being sold at 3s 9d to 3s SJd f.0.b., jacks extra, in small lota, for buyers do not care to lay in stocks at this price. Potatoes are coming in freely, and a good few sales have been made on a, basis of 47s 6d f.0.b., sacks in ; this leaves about 38s to the grower on trucks at his station, free of sacks and railage, within a radius of 12 to 15 miles of Timaru. During the week some 'heaiy shipments of oats and wheat have been msde to Australian ports, and this «nonth should see other large shipments of cereals and other produce to South Africa and the Commonwealth.

Temuka markets (Christ«hurch Press, 2nd inst.): — The wheat market during the v.epk has remained quiet, and prices remain about the same aa last quoted. Several lines have been sold to a local merchant, including 2200 sacks of Hunter's at 3s Bd, a line of velvet at 3s 10d, Tuscan at 33 9d, and a mixed hn< at 3s B^d, at country stations. There are buyeis at prices slightly lower than thp above, but holders are not inclined fo sell at these figures, consequently most of the best quality lines are finding their way into store. The quality co fai is not what might hare been expected, and rot moie than half of the offerings enn be classed as prime milluig. Second quality wheat is selling at 3s 3d to 3s Gd, and finding buyers as fowl feed. Oats are held fiimly, the reports from south causing holders to expect bc-tter prices Any sales made now are on the basis of a halfpenny rise on last week's quotations. The outside markets, however, do not warrant any advance, but the farmers are taking up the same po«ition with oats as with wheat, and if not gpttiDg values according to their ideas are sending their grain into store. Fairly large shipments have been made by a local export merchant during the last week in the Hauroto, Wha-ngape, and Boveric, about 12,000 sa<;ks being shipped. Most of the oats now offering are in good condition. There is practically i.o malting bariey offering, and feed hues are in poor demand. Potatoes are now being dug, the quality being very good, but the quantity per acre below the average. Present local values are: — Wheat: Pearl acd velvet, 3s 9d to 33 lOd ; Tuscan, 3s 8d to 3s 9d ; Hunter's, 33 Bd, at country stations. Oats: Heavy Canadians. Is 8d to Js 9d; short feed, Is Gd to Is 8d; dons, Is sjd to Is* 6sd. Barley nominal. Ryegrass and cocksfoot unchanged. Potatoes Eaily kinds true to name, £2 to £3 , Derments, £2 to £ 2 ss, at country stations.

The exports of grain aJid produce from Lytfelton for lust week included the following linos _<t»p,3 packs wheat. 1364 sacks and 1676 Lagt flour. 20.273 =acks oat», 51 sacks meal, 100 c .a<ks bailey. IK socks malt, 612 sacks bran, 2*l oarks sharps, 120 sacks pollard, 215<i sacks chaff. 216 o?cks peas, 15 sa-ck'n beans, 1372 sackn and 22 cases pot»toss, 58 sacks. 12 bags, 329 punuies and 12-4 cases or.iora. 270 sacks seed, 67 iMles hay ar.d 14.0 bales straw. The exports for Australia comprised in the above included 4503 sacks oat«. 30 sacks malt, 492 sacks bra-n, 100 sacks pollard, 75 sacks nsas, 7 sark.l beai.s and 46 nacks seed. For South Africa were .'hipped 10.0TG sacks oats and 22 cas«9 potato*"!. Tho balance of the expoits was for New Zealand ports.